Morning Portrait

If you follow the string
from the green kite
flutter-flying there
above the city you will see the kite
man
wearing a bowler hat and beard
both black
strolling down Couch Street
the sky
throbbing in his hand.
If you follow him farther
to the front of his shop
where kites
hang like colored leaves
about to drop
you will see him tie the string
sky and all to a parking meter
then puzzle how much to pay
for catching the wind
on such a day.